Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

arcticstartup.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 44 posts

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#21

Post by outworlder »

mixmax wrote: post #7

What this means is that the major obstacles for going into space have been cleared (reliable engine, logistics around sea launch, active guidance) so the next launch will be Heat2x, which has the potential to reach an altitude of 130 km. Space starts at 100 km. Disclaimer: I'm involved with Copenhagen Suborbitals, and managed the livestreaming of the event.

> What this means is that the major obstacles for going into space have been cleared (reliable engine, logistics around sea launch, active guidance) so the next launch will be Heat2x, which has the potential to reach an altitude of 130 km. Space starts at 100 km.

This seems to imply a ballistic trajectory. Still an impressive feat, but getting to orbital velocity seems to be as hard (if not harder), than getting to 100km.

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#22

Post by kalms »

Svip wrote: post #4

Would that make Denmark the fourth nation to independently achieve manned space flight, behind Russia/USSR, USA and China? Or is it disqualified for not being government run?

It would be highly unfair if it got overlooked on those grounds.

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#23

Post by hobs »

mixmax wrote: post #10
ulrikrasmussen wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding testing, aren't there any possibilities of testing just parts of the software, possibly via simulation, or is everything so inter-dependent that a live physical test is the only way to go? It's pretty impressive to get something so complex right in the first try! Props!

You can of course test subsystems, how they play with each other, I/O, etc. But the main job of actually sending the rocket straight up is not testable. You could build simulations, but they wouldn't help much since there are so many parameters, unknowns, etc. that building an accurate simulation would probably be as expensive as a test. Besides, tests are much more fun!

Just build it in Kerbal Space Program!

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#24

Post by arethuza »

outworlder wrote: post #21
mixmax wrote: post #7

What this means is that the major obstacles for going into space have been cleared (reliable engine, logistics around sea launch, active guidance) so the next launch will be Heat2x, which has the potential to reach an altitude of 130 km. Space starts at 100 km. Disclaimer: I'm involved with Copenhagen Suborbitals, and managed the livestreaming of the event.

> What this means is that the major obstacles for going into space have been cleared (reliable engine, logistics around sea launch, active guidance) so the next launch will be Heat2x, which has the potential to reach an altitude of 130 km. Space starts at 100 km. This seems to imply a ballistic trajectory. Still an impressive feat, but getting to orbital velocity seems to be as hard (if not harder), than getting to 1…

"This seems to imply a ballistic trajectory"

To be fair, they are called Copenhagen Suborbitals.

IMHO Whatever they do seems unfeasibly cool to me...

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#25

Post by mixmax »

danmaz74 wrote: post #20
mixmax wrote: post #7

What this means is that the major obstacles for going into space have been cleared (reliable engine, logistics around sea launch, active guidance) so the next launch will be Heat2x, which has the potential to reach an altitude of 130 km. Space starts at 100 km. Disclaimer: I'm involved with Copenhagen Suborbitals, and managed the livestreaming of the event.

I'm very curious: How much did this all cost (I mean, without considering the time donated by volunteers)?

Their primary income is from the support organisation. It costs 100 Danish kroner a month (roughly $20) and there are around 700 members. So they live on roughly $14.000 a month, or $170.000 a year.

Needless to say there is a lot of ingenuity in costcutting, a lot of parts from home-depot....

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#26

Post by outworlder »

arethuza wrote: post #24
outworlder wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What this means is that the major obstacles for going into space have been cleared (reliable engine, logistics around sea launch, active guidance) so the next launch will be Heat2x, which has the potential to reach an altitude of 130 km. Space starts at 100 km. This seems to imply a ballistic trajectory. Still an impressive feat, but getting to orbital velocity seems to be as hard (if not harder), than getting to 1…

"This seems to imply a ballistic trajectory" To be fair, they are called Copenhagen Sub orbitals. IMHO Whatever they do seems unfeasibly cool to me...

Good point.

And it IS indeed one of the coolest things a human being can do - I'm quite envious.

I just wanted to make a point, so people don't start thinking that the next step is to strap a microsatellite on that thing :)

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#28

Post by kmfrk »

mixmax wrote: post #13
vanderZwan wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you see the joke comparing your achievement to the resekort situation[1]? [1] https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151666565407048&se...

yes - it was hilarious! Rejsekortet is such an embarrasment to Denmark, my only constellation is that I once had sex with the CEO's daughter.

I think you mean "consolation", but I understand the reasons for the typo.

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#29

Post by [deleted] »

mixmax wrote: post #13
vanderZwan wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you see the joke comparing your achievement to the resekort situation[1]? [1] https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151666565407048&se...

yes - it was hilarious! Rejsekortet is such an embarrasment to Denmark, my only constellation is that I once had sex with the CEO's daughter.

[deleted]

Re: Copenhagen Suborbitals Successfully Launches Active Guided Rocket

#30

Post by danmaz74 »

mixmax wrote: post #25
danmaz74 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm very curious: How much did this all cost (I mean, without considering the time donated by volunteers)?

Their primary income is from the support organisation. It costs 100 Danish kroner a month (roughly $20) and there are around 700 members. So they live on roughly $14.000 a month, or $170.000 a year. Needless to say there is a lot of ingenuity in costcutting, a lot of parts from home-depot....

Wow, this is even more impressive than the results imho. Kudos to you!
Post reply on HN